Sanitary toothpick container



3853i. 19, 1933. K 5 BRUNEAU 1,927,021

SANITARY TOOIHPICK CONTAINER Filed Dec. 4, 1931 2 Sheets-Sheet l 28 37 V [fiventm w ifnus f 35 I I I 26 21 41% f MM Se t. 19, 1933. K 3 BRUNEAU 1,927,021

SANITARY TOOTHPICK CONTAINER Filed Dec. 4, 1931 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 gw zm Patented Sept. 19, 1933 TENT OFFICE SANITARY TOOTHPICK CONTAINER Kate Shepard Bruneau, Big Sioux Township, 2 Union County, S. Dak.

Application December 4, 1931; Serial No. 578,868 4 Claims. (oi. sis-+78) An object of my invention is to provide a compact, dust-proof container for toothpicks.

Another object of my invention is to provide such a container which will prevent possible contamination of the toothpicksresulting from exposure to insects, and so forth.

A further object of my invention is to provide a more convenient method of grasping a toothpick as compared to the actual procedure as commonly in use.

A still further object of my invention is to prevent waste of toothpicks since my invention insures each individual securing one toothpick.

A further important object of my invention is to prevent possible spread of disease resulting from handling by providing such a container which automatically releases one completely sanitary toothpick to each individual.

/ Another object of my invention is to provide a container which is easily accessible from any angle. v

With these and other objects in view, my invention consists in the construction, arrangement, and combination of the various parts of my device whereby the objects contemplated are. attained as hereinafter more fully set forth, pointed I out in my claims, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a front view of the container itself, Figure 2 is a side elevation of the container showing the push rod which actuates the course of the toothpicks, the inner position of the push rod being shown in dotted lines,

Figure 3 is a cross section of the container taken on the line AA of Figure 2 and shows the pivot rod on which the container rocks, the position of the path of the push pin, and also shows a removable partition which serves to hold the toothpicks in the proper position,

Figure 4 is a plan view of the top of the container which illustrates clearly the course of the push pin into the container,

Figure 5 is a plan view of the removable guide partition,

Figure 6 is a side view of the partition il1ustrating the bent upper end which allows it to fit 7 on an upstanding brace member which in turn is mounted on a foundation block,

Figure 9 is a front view of the pivot, rod and the push rod, and

Figure 10 is a view of the container showing the rocking motion, the dotted lines indicating the most extreme position of the container during the rocking process. i

I have used the reference character 20 to indicate the block or foundation on which the metal container 21 is mounted by means of the rounded brace member 22 which is welded or otherwise suitably secured to the foundation 20.

The brace member 22 is shaped so as to form in its upper portion a rounded channel portion 23 in which the removable pivot rod 24 is positioned to afford a rocking balance for the container 21, the brace member 22 being cut out in its middle portion, as more clearly indicated in Figure 8,

' brace member 22 provide securing means to the foundation 20.

A hinge member 25, welded or otherwise suit ably secured to the lower portion of the container 21, and through which the pivotrod 24 passes,

provides the meansby which the container is mountedto obtain rocking movement.

The container '21 is provided with a cover 26 hinged at 2'7 to the body of the container. The cover 28 is raised by means of the handle 28 which handle contacts with a clip arrangement 29 which serves to hold the cover 26 in closed position.

In order to provide means of moving the container into operating position, I provide the handle 30 which is in the form of a loop-shaped member extending from one side of the top of the container to the other.

The opening 31 provides exit means toothpick.

As stated, the container 21 is mounted for rocking movement on the pivot rod 24 by means of the hinge member 25 and in order to insure the return of the container to an upright position following rocking movement, I provide a pair of extension coil spring members 32, which are attached to the container 21, one at either side, by means of the bent portions 33 which in turn are secured to the container body by means of the screws 34 or any other suitable means. The spring members 32 are secured to the founder;

tion 20 by means of the screws 36 or other suitable attachment means.

In Figure 2, I illustrate the construction of the push pin 37, provided with the thumb rest 38.

The push pin 37, actuated by pressure on the thumb rest 38, passes into the container 21 and along the extreme lower portion thereof as indicated by the dotted lines, thereby forcing a toothpick out through the opening on the opposite side of the container, the opening being shown at 31 in Figure 1.

In order to insure automatic return of the push pin 37 to its original position, I provide the compression spring member 40, which is of the usual type of spring commonly in use. The tube member 39 is welded or otherwise suitably secured at 41 to the body of the container 21 on its front portion.

Figure 3 illustrates particularly the removable partition which serves to hold the toothpicks in the proper position in the container. The partition 42 is held in position by means of the cleat 43 secured to the inner wall of the container 21. The partition 42 is provided with the handle 44 in order that it may be lifted from the container in order that it may be refilled. The upper end of the partition 42 is bent as at 45 and thereby fits between the cover 26 and the edge of the container 21.

The shock cushion 46 is positioned on the foundation 20 to absorb the shock of the container in its rocking motion. This cushion may be of any suitable material to obtain the desired result.

Figure l is a view looking down into the con tainer and illustrates the position of the push pin 37 when it, has been forced. into the container 21.

Figures 5 to 10 inclusive, I believe I have explained sufficiently in the above descriptions.

Some changes may be made in the construction and arrangement of the parts of my invention without departing from the real spirit and purpose of my invention, and it is my intention to cover by my claims any modified forms of struc ture or use of mechanical equivalents which may be reasonably included within their scope.

I claim as my invention:

1. A container for toothpicks comprising a V shaped receptacle adapted to receive toothpicks, pivoting means attached to the receptacle, means for imparting a rocking motion to the receptacle including springs attached to the upper ends of the receptacle, ejector means for ejecting toothpicks and means for absorbing shock to the receptacle when rocked, a base to which the lower end of the said springs are attached and to which the receptacle is pivoted.

2. A container for toothpicks comprising a V shaped receptacle adapted to receive toothpicks, pivoting means attached to the receptacle, means for imparting a rocking motion tothe receptacle including springs attached to the upper ends of the receptacle, a foundation block including a rubber bufier, on which the receptacle is pivotally mounted and to which the lower end of the said springs are attached, ejector means for ejecting toothpicks including a push rod adapted to slide part way through the base of the receptacle and positioned at right angles to the front and back walls of the receptacle.

3. A container for toothpicks comprising a V shaped receptacle adapted to receive toothpicks, pivoting means attached to the receptacle, means for imparting a rocking motion to the receptacle including springs attached to the upper ends of the receptacle, a foundation block, including a rubber bufier, on which the receptacle is pivotally mounted and to which the lower ends of the said springs are attached, means for concentrating toothpicks to cause uniform, parallel positioning thereof, including a partition positioned within and parallel to one side of the said receptacle and spaced therefrom, ejector means adapted to force a toothpick part way out of the receptacle to a distance approximately one-half of the length of the said toothpick to enable the said tooth-pick to be grasped by the fingers.

i. A container for toothpicks comprising a V shaped receptacle adapted to receive toothpicks, pivoting means attached to the receptacle, means for imparting a rocking motion to the receptacle including springs attached to the upper ends of the receptacle, a foundation base to which the receptacle is pivotally mounted and to which the lower end of the said springs are attached, ejector means for ejecting toothpicks, means for concentrating toothpicks to cause uniform, parallel positioning thereof,- including a partition positioned within and parallel to one side of the said receptacle and spaced therefrom.

' KATE SHEPARD BRUNEAU. 

